Gigabyte MA790FXT-UD5P Motherboard Review

Introduction:

These days, there are so many chipsets to choose from when it comes to purchasing a motherboard. For the AMD followers, motherboard chipsets have really advanced in the last few years, and it is just getting better. One of the top performing chipsets for AMD processors, such as the Phenom II, is the 790FX series. The 790FX was an enthusiasts dream for some time, and now with DDR3 memory support, the 790FX chipset is making another stand when paired with the SB750 Southbridge and it is becoming unstoppable. One manufacturer that is known for their motherboards is Gigabyte, and now they bring you the Gigabyte GA-MA790FXT-UD5P motherboard. This board is based off of the 790FX/SB750 chipset, and offers a wealth of expansion and performance for your every need. Gigabyte also takes this board a step further, adding features such as Ultra Durable 3, Gigabyte SATA II, and more. The design of the MA790FXT-UD5P makes one drool with the amount of detail and abilities that went into it. Gigabyte made sure that you were not left needing things, like enough USB ports, enough SATA ports, and even legacy support for devices such as a COM port. This board was designed to appeal from everyone down to gamers, enthusiasts, and businessmen alike. With DDR2 starting to fall out and DDR3 making its stand in the computing world, the new MA790FXT-UD5P is here and ready to show what she has and then some. So, will it stand up to Gigabyte's history of rock solid products and wow us? There is only one way to find out, so let's dig in.

Closer Look:

The packaging is Gigabyte's signature design, showing off its technologies and designs. Displayed on the front are some of the features that the MA790FXT-UD5P offers to its users, as well as showing off the two ounce copper layers that help cool the board. On the back of the packaging are expanded views of the features, as well as the specifications for the board, such as CrossFire capabilities and RAID features. The biggest display you see on the front is the Ultra Durable 3 logo which Gigabyte has introduced, showing how well its products are made and stand up to the abuse of an enthusiast. Gigabyte has doubled the amount of copper they place in the PC board, which is designed to spread the heat through the board and increase the lifespan of the components. They also use solid Japanese capacitors, which are claimed to be good for 50,000 hours before failure.

Once the inner box is removed, you get your first glimpse of the accessories that are included with the MA790FXT-UD5P. The accessories are what Gigabyte generally includes with all of its mainstream boards. Included are the manual, installation guide, I/O shield, case badges, four SATA cables, one IDE cable, one floppy cable, and the eSATA kit which consists of the bracket, power cord, and eSATA cables.

Now that we have everything unpacked, let's move on over and take a better look at the board up close.